Police Refute 'The Times' Report Naming Suspect


A composite sketched released Tuesday of the suspected Bangkok bomber.

BANGKOK — Police have denied a news report earlier today claiming two witnesses who said they interacted with the suspected Bangkok bomber had positively identified him in a passport photo shown to them by authorities.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....naming-suspect/

BANGKOK BLAST
Bt10 million in reward offered
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- TIP-OFFS SOUGHT ON KEY SUSPECT; BLAST AIMED TO HURT ECONOMY: SOMYOT

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850231-bt10-million-in-reward-offered/

Message of condolence
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THEIR MAJESTIES the King and the Queen have sent condolence messages to the heads of state of four countries, expressing deep sorrow especially to the families of those killed in the bomb blast at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok.

Twenty people were killed and more than 100 injured. Fourteen of those killed came from China, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Message-of-condolence-30267192.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-22

Hotels near Ratchaprasong offer free rooms to kin of victims
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- TWO DOZEN hotels in Bangkok have stepped up to help relatives of people killed or injured by the Erawan Shrine bomb on Monday by offering them a free room and breakfast.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850232-hotels-near-ratchaprasong-offer-free-rooms-to-kin-of-victims/

Multi-faith ceremony held at Erawan Shrine
NATTAPAT PROMKAEW,
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI,
JAKKRAWAN SALEHTU
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- MANY people conquered their fear and showed up at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok yesterday for religious rituals in honour of the 20 people killed in Monday's bomb blast at the site.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850233-multi-faith-ceremony-held-at-erawan-shrine/

Authorities defend quick cleanup
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION

Government officials, police chiefs and members of the Ratchaprasong community attend the multi-faith religious ceremony at Erawan Shrine yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- FORENSIC TEAMS FOLLOWED PROCEDURE, SAY POLICE; PUBLIC TOLD NOT TO KEEP SHRAPNEL

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850235-authorities-defend-quick-cleanup/

Prayut expects new Cabinet to lift government's image
SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN,
PANYA THIOSANGWAN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha expects his new Cabinet line-up to improve the government's image, boost foreign economic relations and help open up new export markets.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850236-prayut-expects-new-cabinet-to-lift-governments-image/

Tourists resembling bomber come under police spotlight

BANGKOK: -- SWEDISH national Marcus Westberg was working on his laptop when police came knocking - he is one of a handful of foreigners being questioned because of their similar looks to the primary Erawan bomb suspect.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850237-tourists-resembling-bomber-come-under-police-spotlight/

Savings fund gets Bt164m
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Savings Fund (NSF) has received deposits of more than Bt164 million from people on its first day.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850241-savings-fund-gets-bt164m/

Probe suggests graft in digital clock project
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- AN INVESTIGATION report suggests that a former secretary-general of the House of Representatives may have engaged in corruption when preparing a Bt15-million project to replace analog clocks at Parliament with digital ones.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850242-probe-suggests-graft-in-digital-clock-project/

Look at the bigger picture with charter draft: CDC boss
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- BORWORNSAK SAYS NEW CHARTER MATCHES THAI SOCIETY BETTER THAN PREVIOUS ONES

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850243-look-at-the-bigger-picture-with-charter-draft-cdc-boss/

Visiting South Australia delegation shows solidarity with Thailand during difficult week
ERICH PARPART
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- AMID cancellations and the postponement of events after Monday's bomb blast at the Erawan Shrine, a delegation of 82 representatives of government organisations and business from South Australia - led by its premier, Jay Weatherill - has visited Bangkok with the aim of strengthening the state's engagement with Thailand and building bilateral investment and trade flows.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850244-visiting-south-australia-delegation-shows-solidarity-with-thailand-during-difficult-week/

NLA approves anti-money laundering amendments bill

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly decided unanimously by 150 votes to pass into law the anti-money laundering amendments bill which will incorporate several offences such as human trafficking subjected to financial controls.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850246-nla-approves-anti-money-laundering-amendments-bill/

Chiang Mai to hold Top Thai Brands fair on 26-30 Aug

CHIANG MAI, 21 August 2015 (NNT) – Chiang Mai Province and the Ministry of Commerce will be hosting the region's first Top Thai Brands fair on 26-30 August 2015 at CMECC.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850247-chiang-mai-to-hold-top-thai-brands-fair-on-26-30-aug/

PM invites more Japanese investors to Thailand

BANGKOK, 21 August 2015 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has encouraged Japanese businesspeople to invest more in Thailand while promising to facilitate their operations.

Prime Minister Prayut arrived at Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok in order to preside over a conference between the Thai government and Japanese businessmen hosted jointly by the Thai-Japanese Association and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce. In his opening speech, the premier underscored that the tight relationship between Thailand and Japan, whether at the royal, governmental or civil level, has lasted for over 400 years.

Gen Prayut encouraged the attending Japanese operators to make investment in Thailand, assuring that the government will offer both convenience and assistance to them.

In addition, the Prime Minister proposed that Japan consider Thailand as its main production base in ASEAN. He also insisted that there is nothing but strategic partnership between the two countries.

-- NNT 2015-08-22

France: 2 Americans subdue gunman on high-speed train
GREG KELLER, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — A gunman opened fire on a high-speed train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris on Friday, wounding two people before two American passengers subdued him, officials said.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850248-france-2-americans-subdue-gunman-on-high-speed-train/

Nelson Mandela's grandson appears in court on rape charges
LYNSEY CHUTEL, Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A grandson of Nelson Mandela accused of raping a 15-year-old girl will remain in police custody, while his defense lawyers collect more evidence for a bail hearing, a South African judge ruled on Friday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850249-nelson-mandelas-grandson-appears-in-court-on-rape-charges/

North Korea warns of war with South after artillery fire
ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press
HYUNG-JIN KIM, Associated Press

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday declared his front-line troops in a "quasi-state of war" and ordered them to prepare for battle a day after the most serious confrontation between the rivals in years.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850250-north-korea-warns-of-war-with-south-after-artillery-fire/

RT@RichardBarrow: 7am Runners from Lumpini Park stand in silence to remember the victims of the Erawan Shrine bomb blast #BangkokStrong http://t.co/QKR9ttaJ6P

MOPH gears up for the 12th National Herb Expo 2015

BANGKOK, 22 August 2015 (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health is gearing up for the 12th National Herb Expo 2015, a gathering of state and private agencies specializing in herbs which will present a variety of researches for interested people to further develop on a commercial scale.

Director-General of the Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine M.D. Tawatchai Kamoldharm told the media that the theme for this year's event is "Thai Traditional Medicine, Security in the Health System". The exposition is to be held next month to honor Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on her 5th cycle birthday on 2 April this year.

Among the herbal products to be showcased at the event are Indian gooseberry, chili, Mucuna and repair grass, which can all be farmed for commercial purposes.

Other highlights include breast milk stimulation massage demonstration, and self massaging for headache, back pain and office syndrome treatments. Event-goers can also visit a rare herbal garden where 300 medicinal plants and 200 books on anti-aging herbs will be given away for free daily.

The 12th National Herb Expo 2015 is scheduled for September 2 - 6 at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.

-- NNT 2015-08-22

Loved ones bid farewell to two Bangkok blast victims
The Star
Asia News Network

BUTTERWORTH: It was a sorrowful time for family members and friends of Bangkok blast victims Lee Tze Siang and his four-year-old daughter Jing Xuan as the two were given a final send-off.

It was a heartbreaking moment when Lee's wife Neoh Ee Ling, 33, and their son Jian Han, six, were asked to look into the coffins for the last time.

Neoh, who is five months' ­pregnant, kept a calm demeanour.

Those who paid their last respects included Lee's father Tiang Heng, 61, and Neoh's father Hock Guan, 55, who survived Monday's Erawan shrine bomb blast which killed five of their family members.

Also present were Penang MCA deputy chairman Tan Teik Cheng, Wong Hon Wai, who is the political secretary to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Boon Poh as well as the Thai consul-general Ekajit Kraivichien.

Lee, 35, was a clothing supplier.

Lee and Jing Xuan were cremated at the Berapit Crematorium in Bukit Mertajam yesterday.

Neoh also lost her mother Lim Saw Gek, 49, brother Jai Jun, 20, and aunt Lim Su See, 52, in the blast.

The bodies of Saw Gek and Jai Jun will be buried at the Sungai Lembu Chinese cemetery in Bukit Mertajam.

Su See will be cremated at the same site tomorrow.

Su See's son, Singapore Institute of Technology student Lu Pinquan, has been keeping a brave front.

Lu, 24, a computer science student, told reporters during the wake yesterday that his mother was a happy-go-lucky person.

Lu, whose parents were divorced when he was five, said his mother was always surrounded by friends and relatives.

Lu flew to Bangkok the day after the blast and was told that his mother had not been found yet.

"We headed to the hospital. Upon arrival, it was total chaos there.

"It was difficult for us to get any confirmation about any questions we had," Lu said.

"Later, hospital authorities told us that they found an arm, which they believed belonged to my ­mother."

The relatives then looked through the pictures of the tragic family's trip taken earlier on an aunt's handphone.

They saw that Lu's mother had painted her nails in a ­gold-silver shade.

"This matched the nail polish colour on the arm that was shown to us by the hospital authorities," he said.

Further DNA tests later confirmed that the arm belonged to Su See, who was the eldest of five ­siblings.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Loved-ones-bid-farewell-to-two-Bangkok-blast-victi-30267203.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-22

Rp 700 million salvaged from Trigana crash site

Rescuers have retrieved only Rp 700 million ($50,192) of Rp 6.6 billion on board a Trigana Air plane that crashed in Papua last week, an official said on Friday, as reported by The Jakarta Globe.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850278-rp-700-million-salvaged-from-trigana-crash-site/

RT@RichardBarrow: There will be a gathering at the Erawan Shrine on Monday night to remember victims of the bomb blast #BangkokStrong http://t.co/KG4LOw7OPS

Bangkok Shrine Bombing: Those Who Died

By Khaosod Eng.

Seven members of a Malaysian family on holiday visited the Erawan Shrine on Monday evening. Five died in the attack.Earlier this photo was taken of them eating in Bangkok with a local guide. Neoh Ee Ling, second from left, and her father Neoh Hock Guan, third from right, were the only two to survive. Ee Ling's young daughter and husband died, as did Hock Guan's wife. Photo: Sin Chew Daily

BANGKOK — Terror was unleashed on an unprecedented scale in Bangkok on Monday night as an explosion, clearly intended to inflict maximum carnage, tore through a tourist site important for both secular and sacred reasons, turning Monday evening’s usual bustle into a horror of blood and human remains.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850298-bangkok-shrine-bombing-those-who-died/

RT@RichardBarrow: New Zealand Ambassador @RLevermoreNZ at Erawan Shrine: “Our deep sympathies for victims of blast & families” http://t.co/se2Taowo31

PM satisfied with govt.'s fight against corruption

BANGKOK, 22 August 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed his satisfaction with the government's anti-corruption performance after a survey found that the current anti-corruption situation in Thailand is the best in six years.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850311-pm-satisfied-with-govts-fight-against-corruption/

RT@derekmhopper: Hundred year old theatre in Bangkok currently being restored. It will be the oldest active movie theatre in Asia. http://t.co/1E1d8cEVC8

RT@PravitR: Cynics say Thaksin offering money for successful bomber/s tip-offs means the bomber/s has been killed. #Thailand #BangkokBlast

Phuket tour bus catches fire; no injuries reported

Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: A tour bus caught on fire in Koh Kaew last night (August 21) while it was on the way to the airport. No injuries have been reported.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850316-phuket-tour-bus-catches-fire;-no-injuries-reported/

Private sector hope more cooperation will foster economy

BANGKOK: -- The private sector has held high hope that the government’s new economic team will be more cooperative in working to urgently address problems in farm, energy and transport sectors.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/850334-private-sector-hope-more-cooperation-will-foster-economy/